The Two Comforters

The great philosopher Citosile once said to a woman who was
disconsolate, and who had good reason to be so: "Madame, the queen of
England, daughter to Henry IV., was as wretched as you. She was banished
from her kingdom, was in great danger of losing her life at sea, and saw
her royal spouse expire on a scaffold."

"I am sorry for her," said the lady, and began again to lament her own
misfortunes.

"But," said Citosile, "remember the fate of Mary Stuart. She loved, (but
with a most chaste and virtuous affection,) an excellent musician, who
played admirably on the bass-viol. Her husband killed her musician
before her face; and in the sequel, her good friend and relative, queen
Elizabeth, who called herself a virgin, caused her head to be cut off on
a scaffold covered with black, after having confined her in prison for
the space of eighteen years."

"That was very cruel," replied the lady, and presently relapsed into her
former melancholy.

"Perhaps," said the comforter, "you have heard of the beautiful Joan of
Naples, who was taken prisoner and strangled."

"I have a dim remembrance of her," said the afflicted lady.

"I must relate to you," continued the other, "the adventure of a
sovereign princess who, within my recollection, was dethroned after
supper, and who died in a desert island."

"I know her whole history," replied the lady.

"Well, then," said Citosile, "I will tell you what happened to another
great princess whom I instructed in philosophy. She had a lover as all
great and beautiful princesses have. Her father surprised this lover in
her company, and was so displeased with the young man's confused manner
and excited countenance, that he gave him one of the most terrible blows
that had ever been given in his province. The lover seized a pair of
tongs and broke the head of the angry parent, who was cured with great
difficulty, and who still bears the marks of the wound. The lady in a
fright leaped out of the window and dislocated her foot, in consequence
of which she habitually halts, though still possessed in other respects
of a very handsome person. The lover was condemned to death for having
broken the head of a great prince. You can imagine in what a deplorable
condition the princess must have been when her lover was led to the
gallows. I have seen her long ago when she was in prison, and she always
spoke to me of her own misfortunes."

"And why will you not allow me to think of mine?" said the lady.

"Because," said the philosopher, "you ought not to think of them; and
since so many great ladies have been so unfortunate, it ill becomes you
to despair. Think of Hecuba, —think of Niobe."

"Ah!" said the lady, "had I lived in their time, or in that of so many
beautiful princesses, and had you endeavored to console them by a
relation of my misfortunes, would they have listened to you, do you
imagine?"

Next day the philosopher lost his only son, and was entirely prostrated
with grief. The lady caused a catalogue to be drawn up of all the kings
who had lost their children, and carried it to the philosopher. He read
it—found it very exact—and wept nevertheless.

Three months afterwards they chanced to renew their acquaintance, and
were mutually surprised to find each other in such a gay and sprightly
humor. To commemorate this event, they caused to be erected a beautiful
statue to Time, with this inscription: "TO HIM WHO COMFORTS."